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The adage 'The past is written by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Popular tales often do not convey the full truth, even for the most influential characters in this world's complex history. Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The whole Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most powerful characters.

One Piece's latest look back, detailing the God Valley event, stands as one of the series' finest arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the government's records and the narratives of those who knew them prove unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by passion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. However not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden past. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and including the presence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved narrative of events, the very story the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's scheme to eliminate the island where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This love for his family became his downfall. After facing Imu, he lost his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story told by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last ancient stone in constant movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked all to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Similar questions have recently reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Marines, aware the World Government treats genocide and slavery as sport for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering perspectives and events he clearly was absent for, I think we can consider this version as completely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, maybe linked to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley event excellently embodies the notion that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {